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Don’t Let Your Book Die With You!
Your book can die… I’ve seen it. And it is devastating…
We’ve already learned about the First Time Author’s Curse — and how real it is — but here is an even scarier story for published authors…
Don’t let this happen to your book! Here’s how to prevent it!
Your book’s copyright — and all corresponding intellectual property (i.e. creative and subsidiary rights) are legal assets. Treat them as such!
As a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author PLUS 70 years.
Your book’s copyright will live as an asset 70 years after your death — before it will pass into the Public Domain where anyone can republish it anywhere.
So, you need to be sure you that have assigned this critical asset to someone who cares about your book or it might end up being lost forever.
Book rights are an asset, and they generally land in your estate by default — unless you specifically give them to someone else.
